Sigi's tips: Through life with distance and stick

By Sigi Heinrich I've now gotten into the habit of taking my hiking poles with me on longer walks that also include a few gentle climbs. This is called “Nordic walking” because we really want to include anglicisms in our language. Sounds somehow cooler, more exciting and especially just. What is simply meant is that in this case too, to initiate forward movement, you put one foot in front of the other. Walk or march. In this case, if it is possible, a little quicker, more committed, faster. Because now comes the highlight, the special gag, the actual deepening for the sporty hiker. The sticks are swung along. This requires tremendous coordination. If the right foot is in front, the left hand must place the stick so that it hits the ground opposite the foot (loose forest soil is best, it protects the musculoskeletal system). And then the entire process repeats itself, which is why, experts tell us, this can also strengthen the upper body muscles. It's basically a full-body workout, combined with a real experience of nature if you choose the right route. Of course, when walking at a brisk pace, the gaze is usually fixed on the path and unfortunately the blooming flora and fauna are hardly noticed. Strange gait To be honest, it looks strange from the outside and, if you look at it honestly, you can't help but get the impression that someone is coming who actually wants more than they can do (jogging, for example). Slight feelings of inferiority arise. Do you have to - and this question always comes up when you meet people who move around without sticks in their hands - do you really have to do this to yourself? Mental strength is now required and some of the almost pitying smiles from the stockless walkers have to be met with nonchalance from now on. It feels good and to be honest: when things go uphill or downhill, the stick is what it is supposed to be in its original meaning: a support in life. A stick for life But now, in these strange times, in which new rules appear almost every day to continue to contain the corona virus despite all the easing, my hiking stick has found a really great use. It is my folding rule, my folding rule or, in everyday language, simply called a meter stick. I'm just saying distance. One meter namely. A few weeks ago it wasn't so easy. I would have had to take a javelin with me, like the ones track and field athletes use. With a device that the best in the world throw over 90 meters with, I would always have been on the safe side with a good two and a half meters. Then the distance was shortened to one and a half meters. That would have worked with my cane, because this “walking aid”, if I may put it so disrespectfully, has the wonderful property of changeability. It is adjustable in length. An adaptable device. For me that's now a good 1,20 meters. Perfect. This makes me the ideal Corona hiker. Not only do I follow all the guidelines of politicians and virologists, but I don't even leave the house without a distance meter. So the sticks are already a great companion for me. You can never start early enough.

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Sigi's tips: Through life with distance and stick

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